Sushi Girl is a Treat
Sushi Girl is destined for cult classic greatness
One very scary flick is Sushi Girl. And it premiered at the San Diego Comic Con in 2011.The “Con” has become a Hollywood appendage. It’s where theatrical motion pictures and indie films test the waters to see how big a splash they will make when they ultimately hit the big screen.
At the San Diego Comic Con a few summers ago, Sushi Girl promised to take up where “Pulp Fiction” and “Reservoir Dogs” left off. It created a crimson splash while displaying the talents of some major film icons – Mark “Luke Skywalker” Hamill and Tony “Candyman” Todd, for starters.
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
And this has never been more evident than in “Sushi Girl,” a diabolical whodunit starring a virtual who’s-who of cult icons. In his directorial debut, Kern Saxton, under the auspices of Assembly Line, LLC and Level Up Productions, populated his dark crime thriller with Mark Hamill (Star Wars), Noah Hathaway (The NeverEnding Story), Tony Todd (Candyman), Andy Mackenzie (Shoot ‘Em Up), James Duval (Donnie Darko), David Dastmalchian (The Dark Knight), Michael Biehn (The Terminator), Danny Trejo (Machete), Sonny Chiba (Kill Bill Vol. 1), Cortney Palm (Superbad), and Jeff Fahey (Grindhouse).
Jeff Fahey
We first met Jeff Fahey at a video convention about 20 years ago. It was right after he appeared in “Lawn Mower Man.” We spent half an hour talking with him at the Comic Con “Sushi Girl After Party.” And he impressed us with his easygoing style and philanthropic adventures. According to the Jeff Fahey Unofficial Website, “For a few years now, in his spare time, Jeff has been volunteering in orphanages in Afghanistan.
He also financially supports one of the orphanages in Kabul. In addition to that he has spearheaded the opening of the American University in Kabul, Afghanistan. And he has been working hard to promote women’s rights in Afghanistan. In addition to that, unbeknownst to most, Jeff also travels to Darfur where he takes part in the ongoing efforts to improve the situation of the people of Darfur.” He’s a sort of Gandhi in his quiet and unassuming manner. But a Gandhi who enjoys a good cocktail.
Hero and Villain
We interviewed Mark Hamill for a segment on Extra. He didn’t want to talk about Star Wars. But he did admit he relished playing a villain – “It’s so much more fun!” And then he delivered a very disturbing laugh. You would recognize it if you’ve ever seen “The Joker” in the animated Batman series.
In “Sushi Girl,” both Fahey as Morris and Hamill as Crow, deliver a couple of characters you would not want to meet in a dark alley.
Plot Line
“Sushi Girl” follows Fish (Noah Hathaway) on his first night of freedom. He just spent six years in jail. He kept his mouth shut not only about the robbery he helped commit, but about his co-conspirators as well. The four men he protected celebrate his freedom with a lavish dinner. Imagine an array of sushi served off the naked body of a beautiful young woman (Cortney Palm). The sushi girl appears catatonic, trained to ignore everything in the room even as the dinner venue descends into darkness. Sure enough, the four thieves can’t help but open old wounds in an attempt to find their missing loot. And one thing nobody wants to do is get on Crow’s bad side.
“Sushi Girl” debuted in early 2012. And I shot and produced this little behind-the-scenes video at the San Diego Comic Con. It includes some “Sushi Girl” premiere footage.
Learn more about “Sushi Girl” at SushiGirlMovie.
Follow the film on Twitter at @SushiGirlMovie for updates as well.
